20 Oct W4 | Give Thanks

Posted at 05:23h in November, Topics 2025 by

REFERENCE BIBLE VERSES

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ | Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV | give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


‭‭James 1:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ | Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

 

OBJECTIVE

Monthly Theme: Excellence in Stewardship

Express gratitude for God’s gifts and manage them responsibly, recognizing they are not our own but entrusted for greater purpose.

CONTENT

RECOGNIZING & MANAGING GOD’S GIFTS

  • James 1:17 reminds us that every good & perfect gift comes from God Himself. Gratitude starts with acknowledging that our blessings are from God’s loving hand, not of our own making. Not just our spiritual gifts, everyday you wake up is a gift, an opportunity to speak about the Lord is a gift, being there for someone who needs you is a gift, every second you breathe is a gift. But remember that God’s greatest gift to us is Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have salvation, hope and the promise of eternal life. This is the ultimate gift — the one that surpasses all others.
  • Being a steward (or manager) is managing God’s resources in God’s way because of God’s love. By managing his gifts, you glorify God. May it be managing our talents, time, temple/bodies, truth, treasures. Your Gifts Are Given to Glorify God and Serve Others.
  • In the Bible, the word “steward” describes a faithful servant appointed to be in authority over a certain portion of a master’s household while he was away on a journey. We are stewards not owners because ultimately everything belongs to God.

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

  • Recognizing God as the source of every good gift fosters a deeper sense of gratitude. It moves us away from a mindset of entitlement and towards a posture of humility and thankfulness. We realize that we are not self-sufficient and that everything we have results from God’s goodness. This acknowledgment brings us closer to Him as we depend on Him and thank Him for all He provides.
  • Gratitude for God’s gifts also changes our perspective on what we have. Instead of comparing ourselves to others and focusing on what we lack, we appreciate what God has given us. Contentment grows in a grateful heart. When we understand that every good thing comes from our unchanging Father, we become less anxious about the future and more confident in His ability to provide. Let’s be people who recognize God’s hand in every good thing and who continually offer Him our thanks.
  • If God works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and that good is that we would be more like Christ (verse 29), then we can expect that He even uses hardship in our lives to help shape us to be more like Him. Because He works for that purpose in our lives, we can be filled with gratitude, knowing that there is purpose even in the difficulties we can’t understand.
  • As a steward of the Lord we are to recognize the many gifts of the Lord. Big things, small things, happy things, even suffering are a part of our daily lives and we have to learn to excel in them, for in them we learn perseverance. Through suffering we learn about His Grace and power. We get to see God at work in our lives. With growing faith we live a thankful and fruitful spiritual life.
  • In the end all we can hope for is that one day we will face Jesus Christ and hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • What are the good gifts that God has given to you? If you can’t figure it out, discuss with your friends what they think your gifts are.
  • How do you plan to use it to serve God and the people around you?

REFERENCES